Important! Sign up for the new Iowa School Alert system

Effective June 30, Iowa School Alerts has changed. In order to continue receiving valuable alerts regarding AEA 267 office closures, you will need to re-subscribe. Keep in mind that although it is a different system, it is still called Iowa School Alerts.

Simply visit the Iowa School Alerts website to subscribe. You may choose email or text alerts from the drop-down menu; however, please note that in order to receive both, you must go in and subscribe separately for each preference.

The agency will continue to post office closures to the front page of our website and also using our alerts line at 866-923-1089, but it is important that you re-subscribe to the new system to receive an alert by email or text message.

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New agency video to be used to promote, educate

Did you catch the new agency video produced to educate and promote AEA 267? Please help us share it with the world! Find it on our AEA 267 YouTube channel and share it via social media with others! We need everyone to help carry our message. Not sure how? Contact Beth Strike for more information.

 

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Summer hours end August 15

Please note that summer hours are coming to an end. Normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. will resume on Monday, August 15.

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Training system update from AEA PD Online

AEA PD Online finished its annual update to the training system on Friday, July 8.

The most important change of note is that all staff will need to reset their passwords the first time they log-in. This adds an additional layer of encryption for extra security.

Visit the AEA PD Online blog for specific information regarding the password reset process and other training system updates.

 

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Retirement planning sessions available in Cedar Falls

IPERS is coming to an area near you to provide individual counseling sessions.  Get detailed information about your retirement account. Learn about possible retirement dates, benefit option payouts, and service purchase options.

Individual Appointments  can be made on October 10,11, 12, & 13, 2016 at the Country Inn & Suites located at 2910 South Main, Cedar Falls, IA. Pre-registration is needed to attend an individual appointment. To schedule an individual appointment, contact IPERS at 1-800-622-3849.

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Agency Imaging Guidelines

To maintain a consistent look on all AEA 267 documents and presentation materials, the agency has a customized guide for your use in understanding how and when to use the agency logo as well as other graphic and communication elements. This guide can be found on the Staff Website>Communication and Technology>Communication Guides and Templates. You will also find an array of templates for meeting agendas, faxes, handouts, letterheads, and PowerPoint.

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Be considerate of your team members

Many people have certain sensitivities to strong odors and working around scented products can create unpleasant reactions. For this reason, we ask that you please be considerate and refrain from wearing or using heavily scented products. These may include perfumes, lotions, scented oils, sprays, or melts (such as Scentsys) in your office or work area.  

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Planning to record or photograph someone for agency purposes?

A revised agency release form for video and photography can be found on the staff website under Communications & Technology>Digital Resources>Guidelines, Releases and Request Forms (use your email and password for login). Completed forms should be kept on file with the Creative Services by sending them to Lori Thomas. Please also keep a copy for your own records with your project.

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Discounted football tickets available

Good news Hawkeye and Cyclone Fans! Bravo Sports is offering discounted tickets to both Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones select football games. Discounted tickets are available to employees in any Iowa AEA at no cost to the AEAs. Quantities are limited so order soon.

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Reflections on the year

Sam Miller, AEA 267 Chief Administrator

Sam Miller, AEA 267 Chief Administrator

As the end of the 2015-16 school year draws to a close, this is a great time to take stock of all that we have accomplished together this past year. Over the course of the last 12 months we have taken an already strong and thriving agency and moved it even further forward. We’ve done this through our collective courage to challenge the status quo on important and often sacred topics such as leadership structure, divisional silos, the future of our facilities, budget allocations, and various roles within our agency. To be clear, none of this was easy. Change requires a willingness to scrutinize current practice and ask truly tough questions. In doing so, egos can get bruised and organizational climate can temporarily dip. Some people become so uncomfortable with the process of change that they make the decision to leave the organization. And then something incredible happens–people begin to see the positive results of the change and they understand the sacrifice.

I want to applaud each of you for hanging in there this past year and doing your best despite some challenging times. I can say with confidence that the changes we have made this year will ultimately pay great dividends for those we serve and solidify our value in the education system.

This summer, take some time to reflect on all that we have accomplished together. I trust that each of you will seek time for family, friends, recreation, vacation…whatever it is that rejuvenates you for the year ahead. We have a lot to accomplish for adults and students in the coming year!

In case our paths don’t cross before, I look forward to seeing each of you on August 11 at the all staff meeting in Marshalltown. We have a great day planned for you with lots of fun, learning and reconnecting. Until then, enjoy the summer. And thanks.

 

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Elimination of printed licenses

As of July 1, 2016 the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners will no longer print and mail licenses. This is part of our transition to the online licensing system. The online version of the license is always the most accurate, as a license may have had a sanction or change since the last printed copy.

Local district central office personnel records required for Iowa Department of Education accreditation should still contain a printed screen shot of the most recent online licensure viewing.

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Further details now available for August 11 all-staff meeting

While it may seem like a long way away, the all-staff meeting will soon be upon us! This year’s meeting will be held on August 11 at the Marshalltown High School Auditorium, located at 1602 South 2nd Avenue in Marshalltown. Registration for the day will start at 8:30 a.m. with the actual program beginning at 9 a.m. Lunch will be on your own. For staff members who are part of a regional team (an email was sent to those individuals by their new Regional Administrator in May), the day will end at 3 p.m. For staff members who are not part of a regional team (e.g. print and production, maintenance, business office, etc.) it is likely that the day will end following lunch when you can return back to your work site; however, you may be hearing from your supervisor in the coming weeks if s/he is planning to hold a departmental meeting in the afternoon.

For staff member convenience, as well as to conserve funds, the agency will provide transportation via rented cars and vans starting from the Cedar Falls and Clear Lake AEA 267 offices. While joining agency provided transportation is not mandatory, if you choose to drive yourself to the meeting, please be aware that mileage will not be reimbursed. (Please note that you will be paid mileage for any mileage to pick-up sites less your usual round trip mileage to work.) If you plan to participate in agency-sponsored transportation, please respond via Google document by July 31.

Get ready for an energizing day featuring nationally known presenter Monte Selby as well as years of service awards, remarks from our Chief Administrator, and time to network with co-workers. We are planning a great day for you!

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New accountability and safety procedures beginning July 1

Safety and accountability are important values for all AEA 267 employees. To ensure that all our staff are safe and accountable, beginning with the 2016-17 school year, we are asking all staff to check into and out of the facilities they support. While most school buildings have a sign-in area, AEA 267 administration has asked that all do by the start of the new school year. Not only is this an important accountability step, it will also ensure that your whereabouts are always known in the event of an emergency.

In addition to signing in at buildings, starting July 1, all staff are asked to ensure that their online calendars are kept current and detailed as follows:

(Deviations from these expectations can be made at the discretion of the supervisor.)

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(Category 1) “Full” Calendar: Calendars will indicate on a daily basis using the “busy” designation where the staff member is physically and the approximate times. In addition, other meetings may be listed on the calendar that the staff member may want to be conscious of or attend if time allows and are indicated using the “free” or “tentative” designation. All leave types should also be noted (i.e. sick, personal, EQ, etc.) using the “out of office” designation.

Staff who fall into this category: Administrative Team, direct service providers such as ECSE, Early Access, itinerant hearing, itinerant visually impaired, orientation & mobility , OT/PT, work experience/transition specialists and coordinators, audiologists, audiometrists, COTAs, SLPAs, Family Educator Connection staff, technology consultants, consulting staff, teacher librarians, and technology staff who serve multiple locations or districts.

(Category 2) “Repeat” calendar: Calendar shows the physical location where the staff member is located each day as well as the actual times they are in each location. Use the “busy” designation.  (If you deviate from your assignment, that deviation should be noted on your calendar.) All leave types should also be noted (i.e. sick, personal, EQ, etc.). Use the “out of office” designation.

Staff who fall into this category: Staff members who have a consistent schedule at multiple locations (e.g. Special Ed Team Reps, consultants, social workers, psychologists, SLPs,  and support staff assigned to River Hills.)

(Category 3) “Minimal” calendar: Calendar indicates when the staff member is out of the office for a meeting, vacation or other leave. Use the “out of office” designation.

Staff who fall into this category: Staff members who have a consistent schedule at one location including secretaries, HR & Business Office staff, custodians, print room staff, lending library staff and shelter/detention staff. All leave types should also be noted (i.e. sick, personal, EQ, etc.).

(Category 4) No online calendar completed

Staff who fall into this category: Van drivers.

Questions? Contact your supervisor.

 

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Summer hours are coming

summer-office-hours_COLORJust a friendly reminder that summer hours will begin on June 13 and run through August 12. Official office hours will be 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. during that period. If you are going off contract for the summer, please ensure that your voicemail greeting and “out of office” email message indicate who is handling inquiries in your absence along with when you plan to return. If you have questions, please visit the staff website (remember to use your email username and password to access).

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Hall of Fame award honorees

Hall of Fame award winners pictured with Sam Miller (L to R) Kay Schmalen, Mark Proescholdt and Kerri Wilson

Hall of Fame award winners pictured with Sam Miller (L to R) Kay Schmalen, Mark Proescholdt and Kerri Wilson

Please join us in congratulating the latest team members recognized for AEA 267’s Hall of Fame Award:

Kerri Wilson, Administrative Assistant – CEO & CFO/Board Secretary has served AEA 267 for 37 years in several different roles before moving into her current position in 2008. Kerri’s days are filled with a variety of responsibilities, supporting both our chief administrator and chief financial officer, as well as our nine board of directors. Kerri’s dedication to excellence has earned her great respect from administrators, the board, and our educational partners.

Kay Schmalen, Educational Services Consultant, joined the AEA 267 team in 2004 after teaching in South Dakota for 11 years. She serves in a variety of roles, from organizing technology conferences and student centered workshops to providing professional development to educators and staff. Kay credits her mother, who was a teacher for 44 years, with instilling in her the importance of treating everyone with respect and patience. Administrators, educators, and staff say Kay’s enthusiasm is infectious and her great attitude make her the ideal “go-to” person for technology help.

Mark Proescholdt, Van Driver-Media, serves in the Marshalltown office and has been with the AEA system since 1979. Delivering materials to schools for educators and students, Mark truly enjoys interacting with all the people he meets on a daily basis.

For many schools and clients, Mark is the face of the AEA and he serves them in a manner that supports the goals and vision of our agency.

Thanks to everyone who nominated and participated in the program this year.

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Agency-wide English Language Arts (ELA) team being formed

In an effort to support a more integrated approach to serving struggling readers, the agency has established an agency-wide English Language Arts (ELA) team made up of staff from all three service areas. Staff members have a strong background and interest in implementing evidence-based literacy instruction and will receive extensive training and support in instructional approaches such as PRESS, LETERs, Bringing ELA Standards to Life, and Student Centered Coaching. Team members have been identified, will have .2 FTE of their contract dedicated to responsibilities, and will begin with learning opportunities in June.

Formation of the ELA team is one of many exciting first steps to support our efforts to become more purposeful integrated in service to children, families and educators. Congratulations to everyone involved in conceptualizing this team and those who have joined the team!

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